Mother Tongue and Students' Academic Performance in English Language Among Secondary School Students

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International Journal of Language, Literature and Culture

2014; 1(1): 1-6


Published online February 28, 2014 (http://www.openscienceonline.com/journal/ijllc)

Mother tongue and students’ academic


performance in English language among
secondary school students
Olanipekun, Shola Sunday1, Atteh, Deborah2, Zaku, James Andokari3, Sarki, Philip Ereson4
1
General Studies Department, College of Education (Tech.), Lafiagi, P.M.B 001, Kwara State, Nigeria
2
Federal School of Statistics Manchok, Kaduna State, Nigeria
3
Department of English, School of Language, Federal College of Education, Zaria, Nigeria
4
Department of English and Drama, Kaduna State University, P. M. B 2339, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Email address
sholexofafrica@gmail.com (Olanipekun, S. S.), attehdeborah@yahoo.com (Atteh, D.), zakujames@yahoo.com (Zaku, J. A.),
philipsarki82@gmail.com (Sarki, P. E.)

To site this article


Olanipekun, Shola Sunday, Atteh, Deborah, Zaku, James Andokari, Sarki, Philip Ereson. Mother Tongue and Students’ Academic
Performance in English Language among Secondary School Students, International Journal of Language, Literature and Culture.
Vol. 1, No. 1, 2014, pp. 1-6.

Abstract
This is a descriptive survey type research work on the relationship between mother tongue and students’ academic
performance in English language among secondary school students in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State,
Nigeria. Two hundred students who were offering English and Yoruba language were randomly sample for the study.
Pro-forma was used to collect data. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient and descriptive statistics were
used to analyze the data collected. It was discovered that mother tongue had no effect on academic performance in
English language since there is no correlation between students’ academic performance in mother tongue and English
language. On the basis of gender, it was revealed that female students outclass their male counter-parts in English
language while in Yoruba the finding was at variance. Recommendations were put to the fore based on the findings.

Keywords
Mother Tongue, Students’ Academic Performance, English and Yoruba Language

1. Background to the Study


This paper aimed to find out gender disparity in language secondary school students which invariably may be
studies and majorly, the effect and relation between mother connected with the conflict between mother tongue and
tongue and students’ academic peformance in English English. This is because children in this part of the world
language. Result of the notion that, English language is the are first introduced to their mother tongue with which they
only medium of classroom instruction in Nigerian schools comprehend ideas. But as they grow, they sooner or later
which has affected students’ academic performances greatly realise that the language of instruction in schools is
because the language is foreign to the students. Hence, basically in English. For this reason, learners struggle in
Student who has problem in communication skill may between two languages mentally, socially, economically
likely not do well academically not only in English and educationally.
language but in other subjects. English language is used in school and the mother
The poor level of achievement in many subject areas tongue at home. For some parents, in a bit to reduce the
may be due to poor foundation in English language among labour of their children over language utility either in
2 Olanipekun, Shola Sunday et al.: Mother Tongue and Students’ Academic Performance in English Language
among Secondary School Students

school or at home; have decided to inculcate in the children 1. The instrument of colonial power.
the habit of speaking English language alone both at home 2. The medium for commerce and education.
and in school. But if this kind of mentality is embraced by 3. The common means of communication
all, the country may stand the risk of accommodating a 4. A vehicle for benevolent Victorian enlightenment.
bonafide future generations without roots and culture. It is in line with the above thought located in the
To this effect, many scholars over the years in Africa argument of Ameyaw that Araromi (2005) opined that
have been working very hard over one common language English language has become our lingua franca since it is
as language of instruction other than English language. our official language of communication. It is the language
Adesanoye(1994) on national language both for Nigeria of politics, religion, education, science and technology. He
and Africa assiduously mentioned Swahili, Wasobia and further posited that English language has been made a pre-
‘Guosa’ which according to him had been proposed by requisite for admission into all tertiary institutions in
some other scholars. Yet, none of the alternative languages Nigeria for without a credit pass in English; no candidate
to English postulated by these scholars have come to stay. would be offered admission in any of the existing
In view of this, the case for English has always being university in Nigeria. The knowledge is important both for
overstated and the possible relationship between mother educational, economical and national development of a
tongue and students’ academic performance in English has country. The importance of English language as a school
become a virile condition for the position of English subject derives mainly from its utilitarian value to the larger
language proficiency among students. Nigerian society.
Ezeokoli (2005) also dispelled that English language is
very crucial to the Nigeria education system .It is not only
2. The Role of English Language in the medium of instruction especially at the upper primary,
Nigeria secondary and tertiary level of education but also the
language of text-books. It is through the vehicle of English
English language is a language without which there language that student accesses knowledge in other subject
could not have been an entity called Nigeria (Ogunsiji and areas. The reason, Oluwole (2008) while referring to
Olanrewaju, 2002).Yet, the academic performance of Salami (2002) had emphasized the importance of the use of
students both at secondary school and post-secondary English language in improving communication among the
school is worrisome .This Adesanoye (1994) pin-pointed various ethnic groups in Nigeria.
while he referred to Adeniran (1992) that there is indeed a In view of the above therefore, the role of English in
lot wrong with performance in English even among Nigeria has made the case for English to be overstated in
university students and graduates for that matter. the sense that it is the only recognized official language in
Nevertheless, where the proficiency in English is lacking in the country. Yet, The Nigerian educational system places
any academic setting, it will definitely lower the academic very much emphasis on the adoption and usage of the
performance of such students. English language in teaching at school levels. Even, at the
This stems from the notion that students’ academic nursery/primary where the National Policy on Education
performance in English is low, but government gives more emphasized the use of the mother tongue ,the English
attention to science oriented subjects forgetting that English language seems to have dominated (Adesina et.al,2013).
is the language with which all these sciences are taught and But the question now is whether there is a relationship
studied. Yet, English language in Nigeria has afforded the between mother tongue and students’ academic
country a great deal of opportunities of having contact with performance in English language.
the international world .This is not in a bit to adore English
language than any of the indigenous languages in Nigeria
but to unfold that English language is a providential 3. Students’ Academic performance
colonial linguistic legacy in Nigeria. Olanipekun (2013) in English Language in Nigeria
while citing Iliyas (2012) averred that its position is such a
ubiquitous one that almost every human pursuit beyond the The importance of English language for enhancing
self requires of the use of English in a sense. educational attainment through improved communicative
Taiwo (1993) argued that English by virtue of the skills and ability can never be over emphasized. Students
political power of its native speakers has become the who have so much difficulties with their communication
world’s international language per excellence. To him, it is skill may not function effectively in English, not only in
the world’s predominant language of information, English language but in their academic and this is no reason
dissemination, diplomacy, trade and so on. Ameyaw (1986) than the fact that English language in Nigeria today is the
who affirmed that apart from the introduction of English to language of text-books and the language of instruction in
indigenous peoples of British colonies that has led to schools (Aina et. al, 2013).
existence of numerous independent states like Nigeria or However, it is pathetic to note that students’ academic
Ghana, he also asserted that in the British colonies, English performance in the so called “language of instruction” in
has become: Nigeria has been awfully embarrassing due to the poor
International Journal of Language, Literature and Culture 2014, 1(1): 1-6 3

level of achievement especially in public examinations in 4. The Concept of Mother Tongue


which English is not an exemption (Kolawole 1998,
Kolawole and Dele 2002). This Ivowi, Okebukola and Instruction and Academic
Oladotun (1992) gave credent to when they averred that the Performance
problem of under achievement among school children has
persisted in many subjects such as English language. Oluwole, (2008) while referring to Awoniyi (1978)
To this effect, according to Iroegbu (2006) much averred that Mother tongue could be defined as the
emphasis is placed on the passing of English language at language which a group of people considered to inhabitants
credit or distinction level in addition to other subjects to of an area acquired in the early years and which eventually
enable any candidate gain admission into any Nigerian becomes their natural instrument of thoughts and
Higher Institution of learning. Yet, this has not savaged the communication. Mother tongue is the first language that a
situation. person learned. In terms of that view, the person is defined
The academic performance of students both at secondary as a native speaker of the first language, although one may
school and post-secondary school is worrisome .This also be a native speaker of more than one language if all of
Adesanoye (1994) noted while he cited Adeniran that there the languages were learned without formal education, such
is indeed a lot wrong with the performance in English even as through cultural immersion before puberty. Often a child
among University students and post-graduate students for learns the basics of the first language(s) from family
that matter. Djihed (2013) also confirmed that even among (Wikipedia, 2007).
the Arab Master students, students perform poorly in It is then generally accepted that in teaching and learning
General English which compound their reading processes, the mother tongue of the child is of utmost
comprehension difficulties. importance. For one thing, it categorizes a large part of the
Abubakar (2005) admitted that the matter is serious child’s environment, that is, it has names for most of the
because of the effect that English has on all the other objects, actions, ideas, attributes and so on that are so
subjects of the curriculum at the secondary school level as important to him, as well as to any society. The mother
the only language of instruction. Ojo (2008) asserted that tongue is the child’s environment and is the natural basis on
poor reading ability in students is a major catalyst towards which verbal skills can be built, children learn through
the general poor performance of students in schools as he communicating in a language, which they understood.
relates this controversial debate on falling standard of It was in recognition of the importance and contributions
education to be centered on the English language. Thus, of mother tongue to education that made the Federal
students are poorly equipped with the language skills and Ministry of Education in Collaboration with other
the reason Ayodele( 1988) & Falayajo (1997) have educational statutory agencies include in the National
supported the view that language inefficiency invariably Policy on Education published in 1977, revised in 1981, the
leads to poor academic performance use of mother tongue as a medium of educating pupils at
Forthwith, Odeh et.al,(2012) while referring to World the pre-primary and primary level. However, it is sad to
Bank Report 2004 noticed that performance in English note that in Nigeria, policies are only made; they may not
among students in Nigeria has not only been very poor be properly implemented.
over the years but Nigerian students performed below other Olarewaju (1986) has established that students and
children in twenty-six other African countries. Fraser teachers consented that science should be taught to
(1980:129) adds that students’ poor performance in other Nigerian students in Nigerian languages and so this was
school subjects is traceable to the inability of students to considered as a veritable solution to students’ under
express themselves meaningfully in English or meet the performance in science. In their study, remedying student’s
language demands the subjects make on them. underachievement in science through the use of mother
To this effect, proficiency in the English language is tongues as a language of instruction, Olarewaju (1988)
essentially not only for academic success alone but to exposed some junior secondary school (JSS) students to
perform in life as various individuals. However, there is treatment of teaching integrated science in Yoruba language
low proficiency in English language and this to a very large as the experimental group while the other group-control
extent resulted in under-achievement among Nigeria senior was exposed to the teaching integrated science in English.
secondary school students and those at the higher The results showed that the experimental group performed
institutions. Sofenwa (1992) has attributed this poor significantly better than the control group.
performance in English to the wide disparity and confusion At this juncture, it is very contingent to look at whether
between the language of textbooks, the curriculum, the mother tongue has something to do with students’ academic
English language class and the Nigerian society outside the performance in English language and its usage among the
class. But, the research work at hand is targeted at Nigerian pupils and students and to consider whether there
unfolding whether there is a correlation between academic is a correlation between students’ performance in English
performance in English language and mother tongue. and Yoruba language. It is important to draw attention to
gender disparity in language studies in connectivity with
the main thrust of this research paper, on the basis of what
4 Olanipekun, Shola Sunday et al.: Mother Tongue and Students’ Academic Performance in English Language
among Secondary School Students

will be found out, recommendations could be proffered. Table 2. Descriptive Statistic of Students’ Mean Scores in English
language based on Gender.

5. Definition of Major Term N Mean Std.Dev.


Males 53 52.5094 11.19688
Mock examination is a preparatory or terminal exam Females 46 55.8261 11.98759
meant for all intended final year students both at Junior Valid N(listwise) 46
Secondary School and at Senior Secondary School. It is
organized by the government. The questions are set and Table 3. Descriptive Statistic of Students’ Mean Scores in Yoruba language
moderated by experts in each subject. based on Gender.

N Mean Std.Dev.
6. Research Methodology Males 50 62.1800 12.73384
Females 48 60.9375 16.00586
The study adopted descriptive survey method where two Valid N(listwise) 48
hundred students’ scores in English and Yoruba language,
respectively were collected and analyzed for the purpose of Inference that could be drawn from Table 1 above is that
this research. These were the graduating secondary school there is no correlation between students’ academic
students of 2012/2013 academic session in Offa Local performance in English language and Yoruba language.
Government Area of Kwara State who combined English Thus mother tongue has no effect on students’ academic
with Yoruba Language. performance in English language. On the basis of gender,
All final year students of this academic session formed the results in table 2 and 3 shows that gender disparity in
the population of the study while the sample population for academic performance of students based on language
the study was those who combined English with Yoruba studies is not gender specific because in Table 2 females
language. students outclass male students in English language but in
The instruments for this study were scores of students in Table 3 males outperformed their female counter-parts in
English and Yoruba language. The instrument needs no Yoruba language.
validation because the results collected were mocks
examination organized by the State Government for all 7. Discussion of Findings
final year students and the results have been moderated by
experts in those subjects before being released. As seen from the findings of this research, there is no
The following null hypotheses and research questions correlation between students’ academic performance in
will guide the study: English and Yoruba language and more importantly,
H01 : there is no significant correlation between students’ students’ academic performance in Yoruba language has no
academic performance in English and Yoruba language. effect on students’ academic performance in English
Q1: is there any significant different in the performance language among secondary school students. This therefore
of male and female students in English language? posited that there is no tendency for mother tongue
Q2 : is there any significant different in the performance interference to hinder students’ performance in English
of male and female students in Yoruba language? language.
Statistically instruments found suitable for this research However, the above finding is at variance with the
work are t-test, Pearson product moment correlation co- findings of Aladejana and Odejobi (1999) when they
efficient and descriptive statistics because they are used to revealed that a child will learn faster and better if he is
determine the degree of two variables(Okoro, 2002) and taught in his mother tongue at the early stage of his
this could also be supported by (Owie, 1996) that education. It was identified that the mother tongue
correlation co-efficient is used to compute the strength of instruction will help the children to acquire facts and
association between two variables. Descriptive statistic information easily and quickly interpret information
summarizes a relatively large array of data into meaningful obtained properly and correctly acquire practical and
forms such that they could be more easily interpreted manipulative skills easily and develop desirable attitudes
(Nkemakolam, 2002). towards people.
On the basis of gender in language studies, Karthigeyen
et al (2012). in their study of academic performance of
6. Findings students in English language from gender lens in India
Table 1. Correlation table of Students’ performance in English and Yoruba made it known that the performance of the girls is higher
language. than the boys which agreed with research work of this
paper in Table 3 where a significant difference exists
N Correlation Sig. between boys and girls with the girls performing better.
However, Olanipekun et al (2013) in their finding
English and identified the males to be the best in language studies and
200 .174 .084
Yoruba
this corroborated with the research in Table 3 where the
International Journal of Language, Literature and Culture 2014, 1(1): 1-6 5

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